RIP filmmaking legend Chris Marker

Influential French filmmaker Chris Marker died yesterday, one day after turning 91 years old.

The prolific documentarian, artist and writer, whose work spanned more than six decades, kept his private life very private — to the extent of reinventing and subverting his most basic biographical details.

But his work was profoundly impactful, full of chilling imagery and moving storytelling — even when the stories were told in still pictures, as in his postapocalyptic time-travel short LA JETÉE, which inspired Terry Gilliam’s 12 MONKEYS.

Marker’s frequent subjects included politics, fellow filmmakers and artists, and cats. His many fans and philosophical kin mourn his passing.